THE RUSSIAN TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 131, 1 December 1930, Page 10

THE RUSSIAN TRIAL

EVIDENCE CONTINUED

A CORRESPONDENT AS&S "WHY ? "

(Eeceived Ist December, 1 p.m.) MOSCOW, 30th November. The examination of the accused persons in the conspiracy trial was continued. Fedotov declared . that he joined a group of textile engineers. The latter were counter-revolutionaries, but h i did not break his connection when the Soviet sent him to England in 1925. He reached an agreement with a group of manufacturers, who 23romised to pay 200,000 roubles, while emigres would pay 50,000 roubles to the group of engineers with which he was associated. Since the Moscow trial'began everybody has been speculating as to why the accused persons have so fulsomely confessed. They seem almost to glory in their guilt. The question is asked, why are the proceedings so prolonged, since in Western countries a plea of guilty loaves only formalities? The first correspondent to touch on this aspect is the "Observer's" Moscow correspondent, who, commenting on the conspicuous lack of any of the defendants to attempt to prove their innocence, says: "One is sometimes ajnazed at the composure with, which, they incriminate themselves for capital offences, ■ for which the whole articulate nation is clamouring for their execution. It is a matter of conjecture whether this attitude originates in fatalism, relief after the strain of investigation, repentance after guilt, or the hope that a full confession will bring a reprieve. Despite the confession, Krilenko relentlessly proceeds with his cross-examination."